Method for making capacitors



March 15, 1949. F. wass 2,464,627

METHOD FOR MAKING CAPACITORS Original Filed Aug. 2, 1940 8 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR ATTORNEYS March 15, 1949. v v F. WEISS 2,464,627

METHOD FOR MAKING CAPACITORS Original Filed Aug. 2, 1940 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 F. WEISS 2,464,627

METHOD FOR MAKING CAPACITORS March 15, 1-949.

8 Sheets-Sheet 3 Original Filed Aug. 2, 1940 March 15, 1949,. F. WEISS 2,464,627

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METHOD FOR MAKING CAPACITORS Original Filed Aug. 2, 1940 s Sheets-Sheet 5 -1- |7 ATTORNEYS March 15, 1949. F. WEISAS METHOD FOR MAKING CAPACITORS 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 Original Filed Aug. 2, 1940 INVENTOR K ATTORNEY:

March 15, 1949. F. WEISS 2,464,627

METHOD FOR MAKING CAPACITORS Original Filed Aug, 2, 1940 8 Sheets-Sheet 7 ATI'ORNEYS March 15, 1949. w ss 2,464,627

METHOD FOR MAKING CAPACITORS Original Filed Aug. 2, 1940 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 INVEEVIOR ATTORNEYS Patented Mar. 15, 1949 METHOD FOR MAKING CAPACITORS Felix Weiss, Brookline, Masa, assignor to Cornell- Dubilier Electric Corporation, a corporation of Delaware Original application August 2, 1940, Serial No. 349,725. Divided and this application June 30, 1944, Serial No. 542,927

6 Claims. (Cl. 154-80) This invention relates to the assembling of electrical condensers of the type comprising stacked sheets of insulating and conducting material, such 'as mica and foil, and has for its principal object to provide for the rapid building of such condensers with accurate relative positioning of the component sheets.

In accordance with this invention the insulating and conducting material supplied in quantity is fed and interleaved intermittently and stacked in a selected number of layers to form the condensers which are thus completed and delivered.

The above and other features andoblects will be understood from the following detailed description of an automatic machine operating in accordance with the invention and from the accompanying drawings of said machine in which Fig. 1 shows a top view of the machine;

Fig. 2 shows a rear elevation of the machine;

Fig. 3 shows a side sectional view of the machine taken at line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 shows a front elevation of the machine;

Fig. 5 shows an elevation of the gear train looking at the left side with reference to Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 shows a partial side sectional elevation taken at line 6-6 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 7 illustrates a detail of the stacking nest;

Fig. 8 shows a sectional detail of the stacking nest during a stacking process;

Fig. 9 shows a sectional detail taken at line 9-9 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 10 shows in perspective a detail used with the foil feed rollers;

Fig. 11 shows a perspective of the main cam shaft with its cams and clutch drive;

Fig. 12 shows a detail of the foil driving mechanism;

Fig. 13 shows a detail of a ratchet mechanism used in the foil feed drive;

,Fig. 14 shows a detail of the under part of the mica sheet hopper used in the machine;

Fig. 15 shows a perspective of the mechanical linkage mechanism for driving the mica conveyor;

Fig. 16 shows in section a vacuum valve used with the mica conveyor;

Fig. 1'7 is a sectional view taken along line ll-I'l of Fig. 16;

Fig. 18 shows a detail of a Geneva movement for operating the condenser stacking platforms;

Fig. 19 shows a wiring diagram of the electrical system of the machine; 7

Fig. 20 shows a detail of a clutch drive through which th Geneva movement is operated;

steps in the stacking of a condenser in the machine;

Figs. 28 and 29 show side and top views respectively of a condenser which has been stacked in the machine;

Fig. 30 shows a modification of the machine for stacking multiple condensers;

Fig. 31 shows a multiple condenser stacked by the modified arrangement of Fig. 30;

Fig. 32 shows a single condenser taken from the multiple condenser of Fig. 31; and;

Fig. 33 shows another modification of the machine.

Before proceeding with a detailed description the general organization of the machine is indicated as follows:

The machine is built on a frame I0 whichs'upports the various parts. The condensers are stacked in a stacking nest ll (Figs. 156- a 1 7) which is located at the front central portior'ibf the machine. This nest has fixed sides and corn'er pieces (Fig. 7) and is open at the bottom.

.The floor of the nest is constituted by any one layers, and then carried out the bottom bearing the stacked condensers and delivering them into a suitable receptacle.

A hopper l9 (see Figs. 1 and 6) located in a vertical position behind the nest ll contains in-- .sulating sheets, which in the description will be considered as mica, of the proper size to fit in th nest; and a hollow vacuum rod 20 is provided for carrying the mica sheets from the hopper to the nest.

The conducting sheets which are to be interleaved with the insulating sheets are obtained from rolls 2| and 22 of the conducting strip, ordinarily a metal foil, therolls being located one on each side of the nest. These strips are fed into the nest at proper times to become interleaved with the mica sheets, and are cut off by knives 23 and 24, so that the ends of alternate foil sheets are left protruding from each end of the mica stack for connection with terminal leads.

The mica and foil feeding mechanism is operated in synchronism by a main cam shaft driven from a constantly driven shaft 28 through a clutch 21 which is controlled by a magnet 28 (see Fig. 2). A counter 29 of the type which can be preset to snap a switch 30 when a predetermined number of layers is stacked serves to operate the magnet to disengage clutch 21 when the number of layers corresponding to the counter setting has been stacked, and thus halt the stacking. Pursuant to the disengagement of this clutch, shaft I8 is automatically rotated for a quarter revolution to carry the platform bearing the stacked condenser down through the bottom of the nest and to move the next platform into position to receive a condenser stack. At the end of this movement of the stacking platforms the counter switch is again set to cause magnet 28 to engage clutch 21, thereby setting into oper- I ation the mechanism for stacking the next condenser.

Following is a more detailed description of the several parts of the machine.

The stacking nest The nest H is formed by a rear wall 3| and two front corner pieces 32 and 33 fixed in an upright position on the frame. Vertical portions 34 and 35 integral with back wall 3| form two rear corners; and the four corners of the nest conform approximately with the rectangular size and shape'of the insulating sheets to be stacked. (See the detailed Figs. 6, 7 and 8.) overhanging the top of each of the four corners there is a ledge (36, 31, 38 and 39) which protrudes slightly into the path of travel of the mica corners in coming down into the nest, so that the rectangular mica sheets snap past these ledges.

Leading up to the nest from the two sides thereof are horizontal tables 252 and 253 fixed to the frame, the edges of these tables which extend toward the respective corner members 33, 35 and 32, 34 being sharp to cooperatewith' foil cutting knives 23 and 24, whichare positioned to cut th foil strips at these table edges.

The front walls 40 and 4| of the front corner pieces (Figs. 6 and 7) are placed with sufficient clearance from the stacking platforms so that when the shaft is rotated, the stacking platforms may pass freely downward within these walls without binding, and the heel of the platform in the nest coincides with the front walls 40 and- 4| of the nest. If this clearance be made small, the front walls 4|] and 4| may be formed in the shape of a circular arc with'the radius at the center of shaft I8, so that the inside of the platform will travel along this circular are without binding against it. In front of the back wall 3| there is fastened a spring leaf (Fig. 8), which urges the stacked mica sheets against the vertical heel -|4' of the platform at the front of the nest.

Main drive Referring to Figs. 1 to 4, a pulley keyed to the worm shaft 26 is constantly driven by a belt 5| from a driving motor (not shown). This shaft has keyed to it a worm 52 which engages worm wheel 53 which is attached to a clutch member, 54 of clutch 21. [The members 53 and 54 are free to rotate on the main cam shaft 25 of the machine. This main shaft 25 is driven by clutch stripper 25 I.

tween the rolls to feed the foil between them; and

V 4 member 55 which is splined to the shaft; and the two clutch members 54 and 55 have cooperating teeth which are caused to engage with each other to drive the shaft when operating arm 56, forked to the clutch member 55, and pivoted to the frame at 51, is pulled by its spring 58'. Arm 58 is operated by magnet 28 such that when the magnet is energized, the armature 59 attached to the arm is pulled toward the magnet against the tension of spring 58, thereby disengaging the clutch member 55 from 54.

Clutch member. 55 has attached to it an arm 60 which is attached at its opposite end to a friction drive 5|, adjustable by screw Bla, placed .around the drum of clutch member 54, so that clutch member 55 is driven by the friction of the friction drive even when its teeth are disengaged from the teeth of member 54, except when lug 52 attached to the clutch member 55 strikes one of two stops G3 and 53' fastened to the frame, and spaced 180 apart i around the shaft. When the teeth of clutch members 54 and 55 are engaged, these stops are not in the path of the lug 52,- but when the clutch disengages, the lug moves endwise of the shaft with the splined member 55 until the stops lie in its path of rotation; so that the lug after moving endwise strikes the first stop in its path.

Foil feeding and cutting mechanism For the purpose of feeding foil to the nest there are provided two spindles 55 and 56, attached to the frame, for holding the foil rolls 2| and 22 respectively, suitable brake bands 51 and 68 being provided for creating a suitable foil tension.

The foil strip from foil roll 22 is led between feed rolls 69 and 10 (Figs. 4 and 9) which are geared together by gears 1| and 12 fixed to their respective shafts 260 and I3 and driven from shaft 13. The upper roll 59 is grooved concentrically, and in these grooves are placed the prongs 250 of a stripper 25| (see Fig. 10) which is fastened over th plate 252 and spaced above the plate by suitable shims at the sides to allow the foil strip to feed between plate 252 and its Suflicient pressure is exerted bethe proper pressure may be provided in any wellknown manner, such as by regulating the number or size of shims between the bearing member of shaft 260 and the plate 252 to which it is attached. The foil from roll 2| is similarly led between rolls 14 and I5 geared together by gears 16 and 11 and driven by shaft 18; and a similar stripper is provided.

The foil strips are led into the nest by intermittent movements created by a driving mechanism operated from the main cam shaft 25 (see Fig. 11). This comprises cams and 8| keyed to shaft 25, each cam having a deep groove with a concentric portion a: and two oblique portions 83 and 84-. Each cam is provided with a cam follower comprising a horizontal arm 85 slidable in a fixed slide 85 (see Figs. 1 and 12) and carrying a roller 81 which engages in the cam groove, so that when shaft 25 rotates, the cam follower oscillates endwis of the shaft. The horizontal arm 55 has linked to its inner end a lever 88,

' the shaft 18 turns only in one direction intermittently. Ratchet 92 is of the well-known freely in the counterclockwise direction (with res spect to Fig. 13) without driving shaft 18, but drives that shaft when rotating in the clockwise direction, due to the binding of the balls between the recess of the block and the hub, thus turning the foil feed rollers I4 and I6 inter-J" mittently in the feeding direction only.

The mechanism associated with cam 8| for driving the other foil feed shaft is similar, and the parts corresponding to parts 82 through 91 are given the same numbers but with a prime. us

The grooves of cams 80 and 8| are so related to each other that when the follower of cam 80 is moving to the left and thus feeding foil from roll 2|, the follower of the other cam 8| is also moving to the left but is not feeding any foil from roll 22 because its spring-ball ratchet is not driving. But when the follower of cam 8I moves to the right, its spring-ball ratchet does drive and cause its foil feed rolls to rotate, while the other pair of feed rolls are not rotating.

For the purpose of severing the foil strips fed to the nest there are provided the knives 23 and 24, as shown in Figs. 8 and 9. As they are identical, only knife 29 will be described. This comprises a cutting blade 262 fastened by a screw 263 to a block 264 which is fastened to the top of a pair of pull-down rods 266 and 266. 'These rods are slidable through suitable holes in the frame, and the bottoms of the rods are fastened to a cross piece 261 to the middle of which is pivoted a link 268. The lower end of link 268 is pivoted to the end of a lever 269 which is pivoted to the frame at 210. The other end of lever 269 has a roller 2'" which rides on cam I93 attached to shaft I64. This cam has a sharp high point 212, and every time the roller rides over it, the knife is suddenly pulled down and then let up, thus severing the foil.

The gear ratio between shafts I 64 and 26 is 1:1,

and the high point of cam I 96 is angularly placed 46 relative to earn 80 so that the-knife 29 is brought down after every intermittent feeding of a foil strip.

A second cam and follower similar to cam I99 and its follower is also provided on shaft I64 to operate the other knife 24, the high point of the second cam being located angularly about 180 away from the high point .of cam I93.

Mica sheet feeding mechanism The vertically positioned hopper I9 (Figs. 1 and 6) fastened to the frame behind the stacking nest, has an internal cross section of the size and shape of the mica sheets to be used in stacking; and this hopper is filled with a stack I60 of such mica sheets. A pusher bar I III having a flat top extends up through the bottom of the open hopper (Fig. 14) and is urged upward against the bottom of the mica sheet stack by 85 weights I02 attached to the ends of cables I08 which extend over pulleys I04 and are fastened to the bottom of the bar. At the top of the hopper there are placed a pair of narrow shoulders I06 overhanging the upper opening of the hop- 7 per to restrain the stack of mica sheets from being pushed up through the top of the hopper by I the pusher bar.

The mica sheets are picked up from the top of mechanism driven from the main cam shaft 26 as follows:

Shaft 26' is provided with a cam IIO having an internal groove III with two pronounced high points as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 11. The cam groove is engaged by a roller H2 rotatable on a. pin II9 which is fastened to a lever II4 pivoted to the frame at II6 (see Fig. 15). The upper end of the lever is linked by a pin II8 which extends across a slot II! of an extension fastened to a slidable member II8. Member H8 is free to slide back and forth along a groove seat H8 in a bearing member I20 which is fastened to the frame.

Member I I8 is provided with a pair of arms I2I and I22 through which is journaled a shaft I28 whichis free to rotate but which is held against endwise movement by collars I24. At the front end of shaft I23 there is fastened an arm I26, the end of which is linked to an arm I26 which extends generally downward and links in turn with a member 121 fastened at the top of a hol-- low shaft I28 (see Fig. 6). A vacuum hose I60 is connected to the hollow shaft for the purpose of producing a suction at the shaft in a manner to be described later.

The lower end of hollow shaft I28 is concave shaped as shown at I60 in Fig. 6. The hollow tube I28 extends through a vertical slide bearing in sliding member H8, and is movable up and down in the following manner. A cam I40 fastened to shaft 25 has a groove I4I inside its rim, with four high points; and a following roller I42 rotatable on a pin I43 which is fixed to a bar I44, follows the cam. Bar I44 is free to move vertically within a slide I45 fastened to the frame. At the top of the bar there are fastened two pins I46 and I41. These pins retain between them an arm I48 having one end fastened to shaft I28.

Thus, when cam IIO rotates, the hollow tube I26 is moved frontwards and backwards from a position over the mica hopper to a position over the stacking nest; and since there are two high spots on the cam III) the tube travels back and forth twice during every revolution of shaft 26 from the hopper to the nest. By the action of .cam I40, the hollow tube is moved up and down within its slide, since the up and down movement of bar I44 acts to rotate shaft I23 for a portion of a revolution. Since there are four high points on cam I40 the hollow tube moves down and up four times per revolution of shaft 26; and these high points are so related to the high points of cam I III that every time the tube reaches a position over the hopper and over the nest, the tube is moved rapidly down and then up so that its lower end protrudes briefly into the hopper or the nest as the case may be.

To enable the hollow tube to lift mica sheets one at a time from the hopper there is provided a vacuum pump (not shown) which continually pumps while the machine is running. A vacuum hose I29 extends from this pump to a valve I6I (see Figs. 1, 16 and 17) which comprises a box I62 having an opening I63 over which is fitted the vacuum hose I29 from the pump. Another opening I54 into the box has connected with it the vacuum hose I50 leading to the hollow suction tube I28. The valve box also has a vent opening I 65 leading either to the atmosphere or to a pressure pump, as desired. The three openings I68, I64 and I66 into the box each lead to a circular cone I56 formed in the box into which is fitted av correspondingly tapered rod I6'I held against the the hopper and placed in the stacking nest by 76 taper of the cone by a spring I68 compressed beamass? tween a Washer I59 on the outside of the box and a washer I60 which is against the head of a stud bolt I6I extending out from the end of the conical rod I51. Rod I51 is provided with a slot I62 which connects the two box openings I53 and I54 together when properly turned so that the suction from the pump is applied through hose I29, slot I62 and hose I50 to the hollow stacking tube I28. But when the conical rod is turned away from this position another slot I63 connects the opening I54 with the vent opening I55 so that no suction is applied to the tube I28, but pressure will be applied to tube I28 if opening I65 be connected to pressure instead of the atmosphere.

For the purpose of operating the vacuum valve, there is provided (see Fig. 1) a valve cam shaft I64 driven from the main cam shaft 25 through gears I65, I66 and I61, the gears I65 and I61 being fastened respectively to shafts 25 and I64, gear I66 being an idler. A valve cam I68, fastened to shaft I64 has two high points which engage a roller I69 on an arm I attached to the tapered valve rod I51 so that every time the roller is lifted by a high point the slot I62 is rotated to connect valve openings I53 and I54, and every time the roller is off a high point, slot I62 is away from the openings and slot I63 is turned to connect openings I54 and I55, as shown in Fig. 1 6.

The valve cam I68 is so adjusted on its shaft I64, relative to the cams H0 and I40 that the valve is turned to the position which applies vacuum to the hollow rod I28 when the lower end of the hollow rod comes down into contact with the mica stack in the hopper; and the vacuum is maintained from that time until the hollow rod is moved forward and down into the stacking nest by its operating cams, whereupon the vacuum valve shuts-off the vacuum and connects the hollow rod with the atmosphereor with the pressure pump, if usedallowing the mica sheet held at the bottom of the hollow rod and already snapped past ledges 36, 31, 38 and 39, to drop-01 be blown down if pressure be used.

Condenser binding and ejecting mechanism The four condenser stackingv platforms I2, I3, I4 and I5, all extend radially from disc I1 at right angles to each other. There is associated with each platform a clamping device (see Figs. 3, 6 and 18) comprising a finger I provided with a clamping knob I16 of a soft material such as rubber. the knob being urged toward the face of the platform by a helical spring I11. An arm I18 protruding from the finger I16 engages with the surface of a cam I19 attached to the frame. This cam is so shaped and arranged that when any of the four platforms is in its stacking position forming the bottom of the nest, its clamping finger I15 is held away from the platform against the force of the spring I11 by the cam, so as not to obstruct the stacking operation. When the stacking is completed, the shaft I8 carrying the disc I1 is rotated one-quarter revolution so that the stacked platform, for example I2, passes downward through the bottom of the nest.

The mechanism for producing the one-quarter revolution is a Geneva movement (Fig. 18). This comprises the slotted Geneva disc I80 having four radial slots I8I at right angles to each other, the Geneva disc I80 being fixed to disc I1, and a cooperating roller I82 mounted on a pin fixed in a Geneva arm of disc I83 which is fastened to a shaft I84. The roller engages successively in the successive slots of the Geneva disc I80, so that when shaft I84 makes one revolution the shaft I8 is rotated one-quarter revolution, bringing the next platform I3, into stacking position.

The cam I19 is shaped to have an abrupt recession I85 just below the point where the knob I86 of finger arm I18 rests when its platform is in the stacking position. When the stacked plat- 7 slots 303 in the cam I19 and is permitted a limited form is about to move down, the clamping knob I16 is caused to clamp down on the stack by the following mechanism. Cam I19 is shouldered against a member 300 fastened to a bushing 30I placed freely over'shaft I8, member 300 being fastened to the frame against rotation. Cam I19 .is held on member 300 by pins 302 carried by the member and passing through elongated degree of rotation as determined by the length tween a pin 305 on fixed member 300 and a pm 306 on cam I19 serves to keep the cam normally in its most clockwise position (with respect to Fig. 3). There is fastened to cam I19 an arm 301 having a tip 308 which is engaged by the Geneva arm roller I82 just after the Geneva arm starts to rotate and before the roller enters the Geneva slot to move the platform. This striking of tip, 308 momentarily rotates cam I19 in a counterclockwise direction (with reference to Fig. 3) so that knob I86 drops into recession I allowing knob I16 to clamp the stack.

There is placed beneath the platform disc I1 a container I81 (Fig. 6) which holds an adhesive substance such as paraffin and which may be provided with a suitable heating element for keeping the paraffin or adhesive substance melted in the container. For applying the substance to the stacked condensers there is placed in the container a grooved wheel I88 on a shaft I89 which is geared to a shaft I90 driven from shaft I64 by a belt I9I and sprockets I92 and I93. The lower portion of wheel I88 dips into the melted paraffin, carrying it around with the wheel.

This wheel is so arranged relative to the condenser platforms that when the platform hearing the stacked condenser is rotating through its lowermost position the outermost edge of the ing this travel the raised portion I98 of card I19 causes knob I16 to retract from its'clamping position on the stack. To remove the stack from the platform to which it will probably adhere due to the paraffin, there is provided a hooked wiper arm 3I0 (Figs. 1, 4 and 18). wiper arm is attached to a shaft 3 driven by the engagement of gear 3I2 with an idler 3I3 which is driven by a gear 3I4 fastened to shaft I84. Shaft 3II rotates at the same rate as shaft I84, and the wiper arm 3I0 is positioned on shaft 3 so that the wiper arm is brought up under the foil edge of the stack after shaft I84 has operated to move the Geneva through its 90. To facilitate the removal of the condenser from the platform there may be provided an air blast through pipe 3I5 which sends a blast of. air against the condenser just as the wiper arm comes up under its edge; and also a shaver arm This Layer counting mechanism The counter 29 can be preset by the operator of the machine to establish the number of layers of foil and mica sheets which will be stacked upon each stacking platform; and the counter operates to close the switch 30 when the preset number of counter revolutions is reached. The counter shown is of a well known type comprising a number of tumblers and a tumbler bar. Since such counters are well known, constructional details of it are omitted except for the following brief description of those of its points which cooperate with the switches of the machine. It comprises a counter shaft 200 on which are mounted a number of tumblers 20I (see Fig.- 19), each tumbler bearing ten digits numbered 0.to 9,

spaced around its circumference, the tumblers being settable by the operator to read the desired number. The tumblers are provided with notches into which a tumbler bar 202 enters when the tumbler notches are all lined up. Rotation of the counter shaft 200 turns the tumblers until the preset number of revolutions is reached, whereupon the notches line up, allowing the bar to tumble in. Tumbling of the bar closes the switch 30 by rotating shaft 202a slightly on its pivots so that movable contact 30a supported on shaft 202atouches fixed contact 30b.

Shaft 203 is the resetting shaft which is customarily provided in counters of this type. One revolution of shaft 203 operates to turn all the tumblers back to zero so that the counting of revolutions of the counter shaft starts over again. Shaft 203 operates to open the switch 30 when the counter is reset to zero, for then the tumbler bar 202 is returned to its untumbled position.

Switch 30 when closed, energizes magnet 28 over wires 205 and 206 from a power source 201, as shown in Fig. 19, so that when this magnet is energized its armature 59 is pulled into the magnet, disengaging clutch member 55 from 54.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 19, when clutch member 55 is in its disengaged position, the spring arms 2I0 and 2") of a switch contact 209 lies in the path of lug 62, so that the pair of switch contacts 208 and 208 are momentarily closed" by the lug 62 momentarily striking on the other of these two spring arms and rotating them and their contact 203 on pivot 2 while the lug 62 is being moved toward the corresponding stop 63 or 63' by the brake drive 6|. The momentary closure of the contacts momentarily completes the circuit from the source of voltage 201 through wires 2I2 and 2I3 and a magnet 2I4, thereby pulling in its plunger 2| 5 (see Fig. 20).

This magnet plunger 2I5 operates to engage a cluteh on shaft I84 which rotates that shaft. This clutch and its drive (Figs. 2 and 20-22) comprise a sprocket wheel 2I6 fastened to shaft 25 coupled by a chain 2 I1 to a sprocket wheel 2I8 fastened to a clutch member 2 I9, having internal clutch teeth 220, the members 2I8 and 2I8 together being free to rotate on the shaft I84. There is fastened to shaft I84 a 'clutch block 22I having pivoted in its slot 222 a dog 223 which extends within the clutch teeth 220 and is urged outward into engagement with the teeth by a I 10 compression spring 224. When thus engaged the clutch drives shaft I84. Plunger 2I5 has attached to it a lug 225 having a concaved engaging portion 226 which, in the deenergized condition of the magnet 2I4, is pulled out from the magnet by leaf spring 221 to engage a lug 228 on dog 223 and thus hold the dog pivoted out of engagement with the teeth 220 on clutch member 2I9. Upon the momentary pulling in of the plunger 2I5 by momentary energization of the magnet 2I4, the lug 225 is disengaged from 228, causing the dog 223 to engage the teeth 220 under action of spring 244, thus causing block 22I and shaft I84 to which it is fixed, to rotate for one revolution. When the single revolution is complete the dog is again disengaged from the teeth 220 by the camming of its lug 228 on the concaved portion 228 of the lug 225 which immediately after the start of the revolution springs out under action of spring 221, since the magnetization of 2H! was only momentary.

This single revolution of shaft I84 causes shaft I8 to rotate one-quarter revolution by action of the Geneva movement (Fig. 18) during which the succeeding stacking platform is moved into stacking position.

The counter shaft 200 is rotated from the main cam shaft 25 by a chain 229 engaging with sprockets 230 and 23I on shafts 200 and 25 respectively (Figs. 1 and 5). The gear ratio between the shafts 200 and 25 can be established as desired, but in this particular embodiment the ratio is preferably 2:1 (two for the counter shaft to one for shaft 25). The reason for this particular ratio being preferable is that two layers of foil and mica are laid on the stacking platform for every revolution of shaft 25, so that with the 2:1 counter ratio the counter will count directly the number of foil and mica layers.

The counter resetting shaft 203 is driven from shaft I8 by the train of gears 232, 233 and 234, the gears 232 and 234 being fixed on shafts I8 and 203 respectively, and gear 233 being an idler between them. The gear ratio between the shaft I8 and the counter resetting shaft 203 should be 4:1 in this machine (four for the resetting shaft and one for shaft I8), the reason for this being that the quarter revolution which shaft I8 makes in moving from one platform position to the next must rotate the resetting shaft 203 for its full revolution which is required to reset the counter.

Modifications Fig. 30 shows a modification of the stacking nest and its associated hopper and foil feeds I capable of stacking a multiple condenser which in this example contains three individual condensers. Foil strips 320 from three foil rolls are fed through a pair of large foil feeding rollers 32I and 322 from one side of the nest and three corresponding foil strips 323 from three other foil rolls are correspondingly fed into the other side of the nest through feed rollers 324 and 325, these foil feeders being operated by mechanism similar to that already described. Guides 326 serve to keep-the foils entering the nest properly spaced apart. The nest 321 is enlarged to receive the three foil strips, and is provided with overhanging ledges 328 at the corners similar to the ledges of the nest previously described. The mica sheets 328 are of a size to snap into the nest past the ledges and to cover all the foils; and the mica hopper 330 is' made of a correspondingly large size. The multiple stack comprising three individual condensers 33I, 332 and 333, as shown in Fig. 31, may be severed into individual conthe front so that 1 1 densers as shown in Fig. 32 by severing along the broken lines 334.

Another modification of the multiple stacking arrangement is shown in Fig. 33 which shows three individual nests 335, 336 and 331, instead of one large nest as in Fig. 30. The foil strips are fed into the individual nests from either side in the same way as in Fig. 30, but the micas 338 in- 1 216 shows the flexed sheet as it is being lifted from the hopper, and dotted outline 216 shows it as it is coming down over the nest. At 211 it is shown unflexed as it is in the nest.

While the mica plunger is returning to the mica hopper, the cam follower of one Of-the foil feeding cams, for example, follower 85, moves stead of being large sheets covering all the foils,

are small sheets adapted to fit into the individual nests. There are therefore used three mica hoppers 339, 340 and 34I spaced apart to correspond with the nest spacings; and there will be used three mica conveying rods.

I Operation The operator leads the two foil strips from rolls 2I and 22 between their respective feed rollers and strippers to the respective knife edges, and fills the hopper I9 with mica sheets. He also presets the counter to establish the number of layers of foil and mica desired for each condenser. The electric power is turned on, starting the driving motor which causes clutch member 54 and gear 53 to rotate continuously, and also causes sprocket wheel 2I8 and its clutch member 2I9 to rotate continuously. Since magnet 28 is still deenergized because switch 30 is still open, spring 58 holds the teeth of clutch member 55 in engagement with the teeth of member 54, and the main cam shaft 25 rotates.

A high point of cam IIO engages its follower causing the hollow mica conveying rod I28 to move over the mica hopper by sliding member I I8; and a high point of cam I40 then moves under its follower, causing the mica rod to be pushed down into contact with the top mica sheet in the hopper. Vacuum valve I5I then has its tapered rod I51 rotated by action of cam I68 so that slot I62 is positioned to apply vacuum from the vacuum pump to the hollow rod and thus cause the top mica sheet to cling to the concaved hollow I30 on the bottom of the rod. This concavity of the rod flexes the mica sheet, enabling its edges to clear the retaining ledges I05 and thus permit the sheet to be lifted out of the hopper, as shown in Fig. 6. As the relatively sharp high point'of cam I passes beyond its follower the plunger rod I28 is lifted upward. The rather broad high point of cam IIO causing the rod I28 to move forward to a position directly over the stacking nest.

The next sharp high point of cam I40 then causes the rod to come down into the top of the nest where the mica sheet is snapped past the ledges 36, 31, 38 and 39 (Fig. 8). After the mica sheet is below the ledge, the slight depression 300 on cam IIO causes the mica plunger to make a very slight further horizontal movement toward the edge of the mica sheet is carried into direct contact with the heel of the platform. At this moment, cam I 68 turns the vacuum valve rod I51 to shut off the vacuum, thus causing the mica sheet to drop down in an unflexed condition on the stacking platform which is in the stacking position; and the mica rests within the four corners 32, 33, 34 and 35 which establish the mica position of the nest. Further rotation of cam I40 causes the plunger to rise, leaving the mica in the nest; and then cam IIO operates to carry the mica plunger'backover the mica hopper again.

mica sheet from the stack. The dotted outline then passes beyond its follower endwise in the direction to cause the ratchet 92 to turn shaft 18 and thus feed the foil strip past knife 23 and into the nest over the mica which has Just been laid. The stroke of follower is so related to-the degrees rotation of the foil roll 14 that the end of the foil strips reaches a position somewhat inside the far edge of the mica sheet, as shown in Fig. 24. During part of this time the other foil cam follower 85 is moving in the same direction. but since in this direction its ball ratchet 82' does not engage, foil roll 22 does not feed foil.

Then another mica sheet is carried to the nest as before and laid over the foil which has just been fed; this last mica taking a, position directly over the first one. As the rod bearing this second mica is coming down into the nest, the high point of cam I83 operates knife 23 to sever the fed foil strip under it; so that the descending plunger rod with the mica sheet pushes the severed foil down flat over the, previous mica. The position of the foil severing knife 23 some distance outside the edges of the mica sheets leaves a foil end protruding from between the two mica sheets, as shown in Figs. 24 and 25.

Following the laying of the second mica, and as the mica plunger returns to the hopper. foil strip is fed into the nest from the other foil roll 22, this being fed by action of foil feeding cam 8i moving its follower 85' in the direction which causes its ball ratchet 82' to feed the foil, foil roll 22I now being at rest because its ball ratchet 82 is now disengaged. Knife 24 is then caused by from roll 2| fed over sheet 211 and the second flexed mica sheet 218 as it is coming down on the end of the vacuum rod. Knife 23 is shown in its position ready to cut the foil. The opposite foil strip 280 from roll 22 has not yet moved past its knife (not shown in this figure).

Fig. 25 shows foil strip 218 after it has been severed and pushed down into the nest by mica 218 which now lies flat over the foil. The edge of foil strip 218 lies within the edges of the micas, as determined by the corner pieces 32. 33,34 and 35 of the nest. except where the foil end protrudes toward its knife.

Fig. 26 shows the other foil strip 280 already fed into the nest with the third mica 28I coming down over it in the flexed condition, the knife 24 being about to cut the foil.

Fig. 2'1 shows foil 280 severed and pushed down on the stack with the now unfiexed mica 28I over Fig. 28 shows a. side view and Fig. 29 a top view of a stack which has progressed as far as having two sheets of foil and three sheets of mica, the dotted lines representing the outlines of the foils within the edges of the micas.

This alternate stacking of mica and foil sheets is continued until the number of layers corresponding to the predetermined setting of counter 29 is reached. At this point the counter-operated switch 30 is closed by the tumbling of counter bar 202, thereby energizing magnet .20 (see Fig. 19) which disengages the teeth of clutch 21 and causes the clutch member 55 to continue to be driven only by friction brake 6| around to the point where lug 62 strikes stop 63 or 03'. Lug 62, just prior to reaching the stop, strikes switch arm 2 I0, momentarily closing switch contacts 208 and 200, thus momentarily energizing magnet 2| 4 over wires 2I2 and 2I3, which pulls plunger 2l5 intothe magnet. This retracts lu 225 from 220, allowing dog 223 to engage with the teeth 220 of clutch member 2I9 and thus rotate shaft I04 for exactlyone revolution, where it is stopped when the lug 220 again strikes lug 225, which in the meantime has returned to the obstructing position since the energization of magnet 2I4 was only momentary. This operates the geneva to rotate shaft l8 through one-quarter revolution, thus bringing the next stacking platform I3 into stacking position in the nest and moving the platform I2 bearing the already stacked condenser into the lowermost position, the stacked condenser being held from falling off the platform by knob I10 on finger I which is allowed to press against the stack by the indent I85 of cam I19 after the slight rotation of this cam which occurs just before the platform begins to move down from its stacking position.

During this one-quarterrevolution of shaft II, the counter resetting shaft 203 is rotated a full revolution due to the 4: 1 gear ratio between them, thus resetting the counter to its original position and opening counter switch by action of lug 204 so that magnet 20 is de-energized, thus permitting the teeth of clutch members I54 and 55 to engage again and cause stacking of the next condenser on new platform I3, in the manner already described.

While the stacked platform I2 is in itslow position, the outer edge of its stacked condenser which overhangs the platform (Fig. 6) is carried into contact with the paraflln covered wheel I00, allowing paraffin to cover this edge and to seep into the layers. Then, during the time this platform is held in its horizontal .position opposite a the stacking position after the next quarter turn of shaft I0, the paraflln solidifies, so that the next time shaft I0 moves one-quarter revolution and reaches the delivery chute, the wiper arm 3I0 lifts one edge of the condenser which has probably adhered to the platform, and the air blast from pipe 3I5 blows it off into the chute.

This application is a division of application No. 349,725, filed August 2, 1940, issued as Letters Patent No. 2,352,926, July 4, 1944.

I claim:

1. A method of building condensers comprising providing insulating pieces cut to size and in stack formation and simultaneously providing a supply of continuous conductive foil, flexing the top insulating piece to separate it from its stack, removing said separated piece to a point of assembly and depositing it there, feeding an end portion of said conducting foil in position above the previously deposited insulating piece there, flexing another insulating piece to separate it from its stack and transferring said piece to a position over the end of said conducting foil and in alinement with said previously deposited insulating 14 piece, .and severing said foil end and depressing said insulating piece above it so that the descending insulating piece pushes the severed foil down flat over the insulating piece, and continuing said operations until a predetermined number of insulating pieces and foils has been built up into the desired condenser structure.

2. The method as set forth in claim 1 in which the insulating. pieces in the assembly nest are resiliently pressed into contact with an opposite uiding surface.

3. The method of stacking condensers which comprises laying rectangular sheets of insulating material one above the other in succession, feeding a conducting strip edgewise over one edge of each insulating sheet before the next insulating sheet is laid so that the end of said strip forms a conducting sheet lying within the remaining three edges of the insulating sheet excepting that edge over which it was fed, severing the conductingstrip at a distance outside of the edge of the insulating sheet over which it'was fed to form a conducting tab, the alternate conducting sheets being fed from a different side from that which the other alternate sheets were fed so that the alternate conducting tabs lie on top of each other, and completing the stacking by laying a top insulating sheet over the uppermost conducting sheet.

4. The method of stacking a condenserwhich comprises laying an insulating sheet of rectangular form, feeding over one edge thereof a conducting strip sliding it edgewise into place so that it lies within the three remaining edges of said insulating sheet excepting that edge over which it was fed, severing the conducting strip at a distance outside the edge of the insulating sheet over which it was fed, laying another insulating sheet over the severed conducting strip with the edges alined with the edges of the first insulating sheet, then feeding over one edge of the last mentioned insulating sheet a conducting strip so that it lies within the edges of the insulating sheet excepting the edge over which it was fed, then severing the last mentioned conducting strip at a distance outside the edge of the insulating sheet over which it was fed, and repeating these operations to the accumulation of the desired number of conducting strips, and then completing the stacking by laying a top insulating sheet over the uppermost conducting strip.

5. The method of stacking condensers of foils and relatively stiff insulating sheets of. rectangular form which comprises laying an insulating sheet at a point of assembly, feeding a foil strip edgewise in its plane to the point of assembly above said sheet, stopping said feed to position the end of said strip vertically in place within three edges of said sheet and intersecting the vertical plane through the other edge thereof, cutting said foil strip along a line outside of said plane to leave a protruding tab on said end, positioning a second insulating sheet vertically above and in substantial alinement with said deposited sheet and carrying it downward to press it on said foil and force it into intimate contact with said first deposited sheet, feeding a second foil strip edgewise in its plane in a direction opposite to the first feed and stopping said feed to position the end of the foil vertically in place within three edges of said sheet and intersecting the vertical plane through the other edge thereof, cutting said foil strip along a line outside of said plane to have a protruding tab on said foil end, and then reliver said stack.

15 peating the depositing of said insulating sheets with alternate interposing of the foil strip ends from opposite directions to a desired number of foil ends, and then adding a top insulating sheet to complete the stack.

6. The method of forming a condenser which comprises stacking successive pieces of insulating and interleaved conducting pieces, gripping the stacked assembly by pressure on its opposite faces, moving said gripped stack to a vertical position while maintaining the gripping action, supplying a fluid binding medium to the lowermost edges of said stacked pieces while held in a vertical position by said gripping pressure, moving said stack first to horizontal and then to inverted vertical position while continuing said gripping pressure, and then releasing said gripping pressure to de- FELIX WEISS.

16 REFERENCES CITED The followingwreferences are of record in the file of this patent: v

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Gofl June 6, 1944 

